What is Brexit?

Brexit is the term used to describe England's pulling out of the European Union.

England will exit the EU by March 29, 2019.

Brexit is the famous word for the probable pulling out of England from the EU (European Union). In the referendum-election held on June 23, 2016, approximately 51.9% of the electorate who participated voted for the England to leave the European Union. The election reported a 72% voter’s turnout. On March 29, 2017, the parliament invoked the article-50 of the European-Union treaty. England will exit the EU by March 29, 2019.

When Did the UK Join the EU?

The United Kingdom applied to join the European Communities in 1963 and 1967, but they were prohibited by President De Gaulle. After President Gaulle surrendered his seat, the United Kingdom successfully applied and the accession treaty was signed by Prime Minister Heath in 1972. The European Communities Act was passed by the parliament in 1972, and the United Kingdom joined the European community officially on January 1, 1973, along with Ireland and Denmark.

When Did the EU Brexit Campaign Begin?

The opposition labor party contested in the 1974 general elections with the promise to renegotiate the United Kingdom’s terms of European Communities membership plus a referendum on European Communities membership. After their victory, a national referendum was held in 1975, but despite the crucial division in the labor party, all the other parties and the press supported the EC membership. On June 5, 1975, approximately 67.2% of the British electorates voted to stay in the European communities. The referendum-party under Sir Goldsmith competed in the general elections of 1997 on a pledge of providing a referendum to discuss the nature of the relationship between the England and the EU, but they lost.

Prime Minister Cameron abandoned the call for a referendum on the EU membership in 2012, but suggested a possibility of a referendum in the future. Under pressure from his MPs, he announced that they would hold an out-in referendum on the European Union membership by 2017 if re-elected. After they won the election in 2015, the European-Union referendum act of 2015 was tabled in parliament. Prime Minister Cameron favored remaining in the European Union but renegotiating some critical issues including restriction of European Union immigration, protection of a single market for the non-euro zone nations and exempting the United Kingdom from an ever-closer union.

The opinion polls held in December 2015 showed that majority of the British supported their prime minister, but under the condition that the Cameron must succeed in his renegotiations. In February 2016, Cameron announced that some limits to in-work European Union immigrants were agreed, but before being applied, the United Kingdom must seek permission from the European-Council and the European-Commission. The Prime Minister finally announced the referendum date of June 23, 2016, in his speech to the house-of-commons.

What is the Procedure for Exiting the EU?

Exiting the EU is governed by the article-50 of the European Union treaty. The article stipulates that the exiting state must notify the European council followed by a 2 years negotiation-period after which the treaties will stop to applying. Even though the European Union and the United Kingdom have not agreed on the Exit term, the United Kingdom will exit by April 2019.